Finger-nipple calf feeder



ay-:27, 1930. B. w. GANS 1,1 0,0 3

FINGER NIPPLE CALF FEEDER Filed May 21, 1929 Patented May 27, 193-9 Unrrsn STATES BERNARD W. GANS, OF PIEDMONT, SOUTH DAKOTA FINGER-NIPPLE CALF FEEDER Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to devices for feeding calves and particularly to a finger nipple as it may be called, that is,a nipple adapted to be placed upon the finger and-With one end inserted in the pail of milk and the other end inserted in the calfsmouth.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved structure of this character which is so designed that it may be readily attached to the third or long finger of the hand or as readily removed therefrom, that it stays in place while the calf is feeding and cannot be loosened or removed by the calf when in use, the nipple being further so constructed that the calf can lock his tongue as tight as he wishes against the roof of his mouth without making any difference in the operation of the nipple while the finger tip of the operator rests against the top of the w calfs mouth in exactly the same position as would the teat of a cow, the milk being delivered just ahead of the finger tip.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is very simple, which.

may be cheaply made and cheaply sold and which, by its use, will not only expeditiously feed the calf, colt, goat, kid or other animal but will quickly teach them to feed from a ail. I

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a calf feeder constructed in accordance with my invention Figure 2'is a rear elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing'the device in applied position.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the finger nipple comprises a length of rubber tubing designated 1.0 bent at its middle so as to provide a bight portion 11 having an opening 12. The tubing 10 is open at its ends 13 and attached to the tubing between F the two legs of the U-shaped nipple, formed as described, is a ring 1 1 preferably of rubber.

A second ring 15 preferably of rubberis disposed between the legs of the nipple between the ring 14 and the bight end 12. The ring 15 it will be seen extends at right angles to 0 the plane of the ring 14. I have illustrated 1929. Serial No. 364,839.

the ring 15 as being engaged with the legs of the rubber tube 10 by means of auxiliary rings 15 which embrace the rubber tube while the ring 1 1 is engaged with therubber tube 10 by means of the auxiliary rings 14:. If desired, the rings l l-and 15 may be vulcanized to the rubber tube or made integral therei with or the rings 1 and 15 may be in the form of metallic rings. I thus do not wish to be limited to the specific construction which is illustrated, as this might be obviously m0dified in many ways. In the use of thisdevice, the middle finger of the hand is extended through the rings 14 and 15, the end of the finger being disposed at the bight end of the finger nipple. The end 11 is placed in the calfs mouth with the open ends 13 of the U- shaped tubing disposed in a pail. The finger tip rests against the roof of the calfs mouth just the same as the cows teat would and the milk, of course, is delivered through the opening 12 ust at the end of the finger tip.

The milk, of course, is delivered through the opening 12 just ahead of the finger tip.

While I have described in the preceding paragraph the essential features of my invention, preferably I place within the bight end of the tube 10 a metallic sleeve 16 formed of aluminum or like material which will not affect the taste of the milk, this metallic sleeve being somewhat U-shaped so as toengage the bight portion of the tube 10 and hold it open and it is, of course, provided with an opening 17 corresponding to the opening 12 and registering therewith. In order to pre ventthe fingers of the hand from being bruised, pinched or otherwise injured by the calf. Iprovide the shields 18 and 19. The shield 18 is attached. to the rubber band 15 and is preferably integral therewith and pro- 9 jects in opposite directions from this rubber band to form projecting tabs extending'over the back of the metal finger upon which the device is to be placed. The shield 19 is attached to the ring 1 1 and extends both up ward and downward therefrom. hen the middle finger is placed through the rings 14. and 15, the shields 18 willextend over the surface of the lower portion of the finger while the shield 19 will extend along the fin- 1% ger above the knuckle thereof. These shields as before remarked form tabs projecting in opposite directions and these tabs form convenient means whereby the finger nipple may be pulled off of the finger or pulled on to the finger as desired.

It will thus be seen that these shields serve a double purpose of shielding the finger from the calfs teeth and permitting the device to be easily drawn on to the finger r drawn ofi' therefrom. A finger nipple constructed inaccordance with my invention is readily cleaned.

It can be hung up on a nail and any moisture such as water or milk will readily drain out therefrom. It is equally useful for feeding milk to other young animals such as colts, lambs or kids.

. This contrivance permits the calf or other animal to drink readily and very quickly weans the calf, and thereis no danger of the calfs teeth making the finger sore as is the case where an attempt made to wean the calf by the use of the finger alone. The calf can force its tongue toward the roof of its mouth as tightly as it wishes. to without in any way interfering with the proper delivery of the milk 'on the top of the calfs tongue. By its use, calves may be taught to feed from a pail very quickly because the milk is delivered ina full stream to the calf by means of the tube 10.

1. A calf feeder comprising a tubular member open at its opposite ends, and a finger ring carried by the tubular member whereby the tubular member may be carried by the finger.

2. A calf feeder of the character described, comprising a tubular member bent in. a U- shape, the'bight end of the tubular member having an opening, the legs of the U-shaped member being opened at their ends opposite the bight, and means mounted upon the tn- .bular member whereby it may be engaged with the middle finger of the hand.

, 3. A calf feeder of the character described, comprising a length of rubber tubing bent at its middle into an approximate U-shape, the bight end of the length of tubing being formed with a discharge opening, the ends of-the legs so formed being open, a ring mounted upon the feeder ad acent the ends of the legs and through which the finger of an operator may be passed, and an elastic band extending around the two legs of the feeder and between the ring and the bight portion and adapted to engage around the finger of the hand,

4. A calf feeder of the character described, comprisinga tubular member open at its opposite ends, means whereby the tubular member may be engaged'with the finger, and finger. shields carried by said means.

5. A calf feeder of the character described,

comprising a tubular member bent into a U- shape, the bight end of the tubular member having an opening, the legs of the U-shaped member being open at their ends opposite the bight, a metallic sleeve disposed within the bight end of the tubular member and having an opening coinciding with the opening in the bight end of the tubular member, and means mounted upon the tubular member whereby it may be engaged with the middle finger of the hand.

6. A calf feeder of the character described, comprising atubular member bent into a U- shape, the bightend of the length of tubing being formed with a discharge opening, the

tween the legs of the feeder, and between the first named ring and the bight portion and disposed in a plane at right angles to theplane of the first namedring and adapted to engage around the finger of a hand.

7. A calf feeder of the character described, comprising a tubular member bent into a U- shape, the bight end of the length of tubing being formed with a discharge opening, the ends of the legs so formed being open, a ring mounted upon the feeder adjacent theends of the legs and disposed in a plane of saidlegs and through which the finger of an operator may be passed, a shield forming part of this ring and extending in opposite directions therefrom, and a second ring disposed between the legs of the feeder, and between the first named ring and the bight portion and disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of the first named ring and adapted to engage around the finger of a hand, said second named ring having a shield extending parallel to the plane of said legs and at right angles to the first named ring.

In testlmony whereof I hereunto affix my 

